The No. 1 key to success in the postseason is your No. 1 starter. Right?

Sort of. “When you’re in the playoffs, they’re all No. 1 starters,” Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels says. “Every game has that kind of importance.”

But having That Guy to open a series not only builds a good feeling in the clubhouse, it means you can start That Guy more than once in a series. And Justin Verlander is That Guy.

“The surest thing in baseball,” TBS analyst Ron Darling says. The gap between Verlander and the rest of Those Guys in the postseason is the main reason the Tigers are my pick to win the World Series.

Ranking the No. 1 — or, in some cases, the Game 1 — starters of the 10-team field:

1. Justin Verlander, Tigers

Even if David Price, Jered Weaver, Clayton Kershaw, Felix Hernandez, R.A. Dickey, et. al had made the postseason, Verlander still would have been ranked right here, as anyone who can throw a 100 mph fastball on their first pitch should be. He is ready for October, too. Verlander has allowed a total of two earned runs in his past four starts.

2. Matt Cain, Giants

He started the All-Star Game for the N.L., won 16 games in 2012 and has posted a sub-3.00 ERA in each of the past two seasons. And he’s pitched his best in the postseason. The next earned run he allows in the playoffs will be the first. Cain worked 21 1/3 innings over three starts in the 2010 playoffs without giving up an earned run.

3. Kris Medlen, Braves

He went 9-0 with a 0.91 ERA in 12 starts after joining the rotation. And it wasn’t a fluke. “He’s a little like (Greg) Maddux,” Darling says. “He doesn’t throw hard but he has the ability to paint inside with his fastball on left-handed hitters. Like Maddux, he has four pitches he can throw for strikes and he’s a little bulldog out there.”

4. Gio Gonzalez, Nationals

After leading the N.L. with 21 wins and posting a 2.89 ERA, he should finish no lower than second in Cy Young voting. He’d rank higher here if it was certain he’d be facing the Cardinals and not the Braves. He shut out the Cardinals in one start; his 4.57 ERA against the Braves was his highest against any team.

5. Kyle Lohse, Cardinals

His bullpen (and manager Mike Matheny’s bullpen decisions) was about all that kept the right-hander from winning 20. He finished 16-3 with a 2.89 ERA while working a career-high 211 innings. His approach could give the Braves trouble. While they led the majors in walks, Lohse averaged just 1.62 per nine innings, one of the best marks in the majors.

6. CC Sabathia, Yankees

Finishing with the A.L.’s top seed will allow the big lefty to pitch with an extra day’s rest. He can use it. Sabathia showed his dominant form in his last three starts but concerns remain that his left elbow isn’t 100 percent.

7. Johnny Cueto, Reds

At 19-9, 2.67, Cueto was the Reds’ best starter. He’s ranked this low only because Dusty Baker should have saved him for Game 3 in Cincinnati. Now Homer Bailey is in line for a start at Great American Ball Park, where his ERA was 5.16. On the road, Bailey had a 2.32 and pitched a no-hitter.

8. Yu Darvish, Rangers

The Rangers were leaning toward Matt Harrison but needed him to start on Tuesday. Darvish is a good backup plan. In his past eight starts, he pitched at least six innings without allowing more than three earned runs.

9. Jarrod Parker, Athletics

He put up the best numbers and is thought to have the most potential of all the A’s young starters but he pitched Wednesday and won’t be available for Game 1. Bob Melvin has yet to announce his Game 1 starter but it doesn’t much matter. Whoever he names will be a young pitcher with a great arm, a lot of moxie and little name recognition outside Oakland.

10. Joe Saunders, Orioles

His career line at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington: Six starts, six losses, 9.38 ERA. Good thing O's manager Buck Showalter can include extra relievers on his wild-card roster.